Xu Mai Category
Xu Mai Category: The Xu Mai (Deficient Pulse) category includes five types: Xu (Deficient), Xi (Thin), Wei (Minute), Dai (Intermittent), and Duan (Short). The pulse is weak and lacks strength.;
Xu
When lifted, it is slow and large; when pressed, it feels loose, resembling a valley with no boundaries. Do not confuse the Kuo (Soggy) pulse with Xu; the Kuo pulse is floating and large like a green onion. A weak pulse with body heat indicates heat injury, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, and anxiety. Fever due to Yin deficiency must be treated early; nourishing the Ying (Nutritive Qi) and benefiting Qi should not be delayed. If the blood does not nourish the heart, the Cun (Pulse at the wrist) is weak, and the Guan (Pulse at the wrist) indicates abdominal distension and difficulty in digestion. Bone steaming, atrophy, and damage to essence and blood are found at the Shenmen (Spirit Gate) pulse position.
The characteristics of the Xu pulse are slow, large, and loose, with the key being its looseness and lack of strength. The floating pulse has strength, especially when lifted, while the Xu pulse overall lacks strength. The main symptoms associated with it are “heat injury, spontaneous sweating, palpitations, and anxiety.” This is primarily caused by deficiency of both Qi and blood, with the Cun indicating deficiency of Lung Qi and Yin, and insufficient Heart blood; the Guan indicates deficiency of Spleen Qi and Liver blood, while the Chi (Pulse at the wrist) indicates deficiency of essence and blood.
Xi
The Xi pulse is thin and delicate like silk, and when pressed, it feels heavy and continuous. In spring and summer, the young should be cautious, while in autumn and winter, it is suitable for the elderly and weak. The Xi pulse indicates weakened blood and Qi, and various deficiencies and damages from emotional disturbances. If it is not due to dampness invading the lower back and kidneys, it is due to damage to essence and excessive sweating. The Cun Xi pulse indicates frequent vomiting, while the Guan indicates abdominal distension and a weak stomach. The Chi Xi pulse often indicates cold in the lower dantian, with symptoms of diarrhea, nocturnal emissions, and loss of Yin.
The pulse is tight like a rope, string-like like a bowstring, and thin like silk, with each pulse appearing progressively thinner and weaker. This is mainly due to various deficiencies and damages, and it may also be due to dampness. The Cun Xi pulse may indicate dampness in the upper jiao, leading to easy vomiting; the Guan Xi pulse indicates Spleen and Stomach weakness, while the Chi Xi pulse often indicates deficiency of essence and blood. The Xi pulse can be seen in both Qi deficiency and blood deficiency, thus being neutral in terms of Yin and Yang. If the Xi pulse is due to dampness, it is not solely due to Qi deficiency, and it can also indicate Yin and blood deficiency.
Duan
Short pulses are characterized by being shortened at both ends, with a rough, short, slow, and thin quality. A short and rough pulse indicates Lung and Kidney disease, possibly due to Qi obstruction or phlegm. Short pulses are primarily found in the Cun and Chi positions; a short and slippery pulse may indicate alcohol injury to the spirit. A floating pulse indicates blood stasis, while a sinking pulse indicates fullness; the Cun pulse indicates headaches, while the Chi pulse indicates abdominal pain.
Short pulses are considered pathological compared to long pulses; if a long pulse is gentle and calm, it is a normal pulse, while a short pulse is definitely a pathological pulse. Short pulses also belong to Qi and blood deficiency, but this deficiency often has a solid component, indicating a fundamental deficiency with a superficial excess, which can be due to Qi stagnation, blood stasis, or phlegm obstruction. In the Cun position, it may indicate headaches, while in the Chi position, it may indicate abdominal pain. Short pulses should be differentiated from slippery pulses; slippery pulses are also short but feel smooth like beads rolling, while short pulses feel rough and lack smoothness.
Wei
The Wei pulse is very weak and barely perceptible, as if it is almost non-existent. The Wei pulse indicates weak Yang and weak Yin, and is slightly thicker than the Xi pulse. Weak Qi and blood lead to a weak pulse, with symptoms of chills, fever, and profuse sweating. In men, it indicates extreme fatigue and various deficiencies, while in women, it indicates abnormal bleeding and discharge. The Cun Wei pulse indicates shortness of breath or anxiety, while the Guan pulse indicates fullness and distension. The Chi position shows weakness of essence and blood, with symptoms of chills, fatigue, and pain.
The Wei pulse is an extreme version of the Xi pulse; the Xi pulse still has a “silk” form, while the Wei pulse lacks a distinct form, feeling almost non-existent when pressed. It primarily indicates various deficiency syndromes. It should also be differentiated from the Ruo (Weak) pulse, which is floating and can be felt upon pressing. The Ruo pulse is soft and sinking, while the Wei pulse indicates both Yin and Yang deficiency, as well as deficiency of both Qi and blood.